ITALIE

Ervaar Italie

It was once said that all roads lead to Rome, and if you want to experience Italy at its most iconic, that holds true to this day. Witness the indelible footprint of the Roman Empire in the landmarks and culture of Italy's capital city. It may come as a surprise that Rome's population accounts for around 2.5 million of Italy's 60 million residents.

Florence is also a capital city, not of the country, but of the picturesque and tranquil region of Tuscany. It too is more populated than many people realise, with 383,083 inhabitants, expanding to over 1,520,000 in the metropolitan area. Florence remains one of Italy's most beautiful skylines, with architecture dating back to the Italian Renaissance. It is sometimes called the Athens of the Middle Ages - and indeed, soon after the Kingdom of Italy was first established, Florence served as its capital from 1865 to 1871.

Venice is a must-see for anyone planning holidays to Italy, with its unique network of canals in place of streets throughout much of the city. Where there is dry land, there is always the risk of flooding at high tide, and you may hear the sirens to alert you to what is known locally as 'acqua alta' or simply 'high water'. When this happens, even the dry streets and alleys become slightly submerged, and getting around on foot requires a knowledge of where temporary raised walkways are put into place. These provide a safe haven for a few hours until the tide begins to fall again, taking the floodwaters with it.

Pompeii may seem eerie to some people, but for many it is a rare opportunity to see a snapshot of a city frozen in time. Itâ€”along with neighbouring Herculaneumâ€”was quilted in volcanic ash in 79 AD, and rather than destroying the town, this preserved it. Now ongoing excavation work is rediscovering artefacts still in their original positions - a two-millennium-old time capsule of Roman life. Visit on August 24th and you may feel the chills even more than usual, as this marks the anniversary of the eruption itself, which killed around 3,000 of the 20,000 population of Pompeii.

Need to know

Italian is the primary language of Italy, but others are spoken too. For example, the island of Sardinia has its own native tongue. On package holidays to Italy, there's a very good chance of meeting somebody who speaks English. You're most likely to find English speakers in the main cities and tourists areas, with many people in the hospitality sector also able to speak the language.

Currency

The Italian currency, like much of Europe, is the euro. You can easily obtain currency at ATMs with a major debit or credit card, or by exchanging sterling in a bank or a specialist bureau de change for the best rates.

Visas

Entry into Italy is among the easiest in the world. You will need a passport valid for six months beyond the length of stay and issued within the past 10 years. Technically it doesn't need to be valid any longer than your return journey, but it's sensible to have at least a few days before the expiry date, in case your return gets delayed. However, if you have an Australian, British, Canadian, American or other EU passport, you do not need a visa. If you are unsure of any specific circumstances you think might affect this in your case, contact the Italian Embassy before you travel.

Climate

Italy's climate varies depending on where in the country you are. Much of the south - the 'boot' - has a Mediterranean climate, with hot and very dry summers. In the north, away from the coast, things can be cooler with more precipitation. In the extreme north, the Italian Alps have everything you'd expect of an alpine climate, complete with heavy winter snowfall that produces excellent conditions for skiing and snowboarding. Which ever type of climate you enjoy, Italy holidays have something for everyone.

Main Airports

Italy's busiest airports by passenger traffic are Rome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa Airport. Both of these see the most significant amount of travellers arriving from outside Europe.

Flight Options

There are several other cities that cater for international flights, including Bologna, Naples, Pisa, Venice, Turin, Genoa, Bari, Catania and Palermo. As one of the continent's most popular tourist destinations, flights to Italy are highly competitive. This means there are often budget tickets and flexible flights throughout the year.

Travel Advice

EU citizens should only need a passport in order to be allowed entry into the country - there is usually no need to apply for a tourist visa. However, the usual caveats apply to this, and if your passport is very close to its expiration date (within six months) then you may need to renew it before planning Italy holidays.

Other Transport Options

If you have more time to spare, you might like to travel to Italy by train. Simply hop on the Eurostar to Paris, and catch a connection to your Italian escape. If you like, you could even drive, using ferries to get you across the mediterranean.